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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Kyle O'Sullivan

King Charles, Prince William and other royal's medals explained - and military service

King Charles III is leading a procession of the Queen's coffin today along with his sons and siblings. Her Majesty's coffin is being taken from Buckingham Palace to where she will lie in state at Westminster Hall before a 20-minute service led by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Princes William and Harry are standing shoulder to shoulder as they accompany their father, while The Duke of York, Princess Royal, and the Earl of Wessex are also following on foot. The Queen's four children wore their service medals while following her coffin during the service in Edinburgh - but this time they were joined by the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex. Here is a look at what the royal's medals are for.

King Charles

Prince William, Prince of Wales, Vice Admiral, Sir Timothy Lawrence, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Mr Peter Phillips, King Charles III, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex walk behind the coffin (Getty Images)

For the latest updates as the world mourns the Queen and King Charles III's reign begins, follow our live blog.

King Charles will be wearing full day ceremonial uniform with the rank of Field Marshal.

His Majesty will be carrying his Field Marshal Baton, which was presented to him by his mother the Queen when he became Field Marshal in 2012.

The new King will also be wearing the Order of Merit (neck decoration) with the Order of the Garter Sash and Star.

Medals:
• Queen's Service Order (New Zealand)
• Coronation Medal
• Silver Jubilee Medal
• Golden Jubilee Medal
• Diamond Jubilee Medal
• Platinum Jubilee Medal (as of 2nd June 2022)
• Naval Long Service Good Conduct (LSGC) (3 x Additional Service Bars)
• Canadian Forces Decoration (3 x Additional Service Bars)
• The New Zealand Commemorative Medal
• The New Zealand Armed Forces Award.

Prince William

Prince William during the procession (Getty Images)

The Prince of Wales is wearing RAF No1 uniform, Garter Sash with RAF Pilot Wings and Garter Star Chest Order.

His wife, Kate Middleton, will follow behind in a car along with some of the other female royals.

Due to being a lot younger than his father, aunt and uncles, Prince William has a lot less medals.

Medals:
• Her Majesty The Queen's Golden Jubilee
• Her Majesty The Queen's Diamond Jubilee
• Her Majesty The Queen's Platinum Jubilee

Princess Anne

Princess Anne at the Vigil at St Giles' Cathedral with her brothers (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Princess Anne will be wearing Royal Navy full ceremonial uniform in the rank of Admiral.

The Princess Royal, who is the Queen's only daughter, will also wear a decoration of a Garter star and Garter sash.

HRH will be wearing the following full-size medals:
• Queen’s Service Order
• Her Majesty The Queen's Coronation Medal
• Her Majesty The Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal
• Her Majesty The Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal
• Her Majesty The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal
• Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal
• Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Royal Navy)
• Canadian Forces Decoration
• Order of St John Service Medal
• New Zealand 1990 Medal

Prince Andrew

Prince Andrew, Duke of York at St Giles Cathedral (Samir Hussein/WireImage)

The Duke of York is not wearing military uniform as he is a non-working member of the royal family.

He will only be allowed to do so as a special mark of respect for the Queen at the final vigil in Westminster Hall.

Andrew stepped down from public life after the furore over his friendship with paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, and paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case to a woman he claimed never to have met.

In January, ahead of his legal settlement, his mother the Queen stripped him of all of his honorary military roles, including Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and he gave up his HRH style.

At the procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall today, he is wearing a morning suit.

Medals and decorations:

• Order of the Garter Star
• L-R 1: South Atlantic Medal
• Her Majesty The Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal
• Her Majesty The Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal
• Her Majesty The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal
• Her Majesty The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal
• Royal Navy Long Service Medals with Bars
• Canadian Forces Decoration with Bar
• New Zealand Commemoration Medal

Prince Edward

Prince Edward at the Service of Prayer and Reflection for the Life of Queen Elizabeth II at St Giles' Cathedral (PA)

The Earl of Wessex is wearing the Blues Uniform with the rank of Honorary Royal Colonel of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry.

Prince Edward's wife, the Countess of Wessex, is travelling by car along with the Queen Consort, Princess of Wales and Duchess of Sussex.

The Queen and Prince Philip's youngest son's decorations also include the Garter Star and Sash.

Medals:
• Her Majesty The Queen's Golden Jubilee
• Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
• Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
• New Zealand Medal
• Canadian Forces Medal

* You can now buy Friday's historic Daily Mirror commemorating the death of the Queen here: mirror.co.uk/commemorative

You can leave your tributes to Queen Elizabeth II here

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